Door closer



F. V. MCHALE Oct. 23, 1962 DOOR CLOSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 2 Filed July2. 1959 24 FIG.:v

INVENTOR FRANCIS V.McHALE A4 ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1962 F. V. McHALE3,059,268

DOOR CLOSER Filed July 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "08 e6 5o 67 e 6o 6a u y77 n lo 4 /l 4 c y 78v a2 ao l 7a l' l 95 4s 4 43 f g 4 6 '0 5' '0''02536152 :o3 5o 585 ,.-l NICNERMLE BY Za/WMM ,Q4 A'rroRNEY e Stats Thisinvention relates to a door closer mechanism and more particularly to adoor check and closer of the hydraulic type wherein a piston travelingin a cylinder bore biases a closer spring contained in the device uponopening of the door and dampens the closing action of the spring whenthe open door is released by hydraulic dampener means.

This invention still more particularly relates to a door closer deviceof the type described having a novel construction whereby use ofrelatively soft, poor bearing materials may be employed for the body orcasing of the device, without sacrifice of the wearing properties orsmooth operation required of such devices.

In hydraulic door closer devices of the type heretofore described, theuse of aluminum or like relatively poor bearing metals has been avoidedby reason of the excessive wear and other undesirable factorsencountered when such metals are attempted to be used for door closers.Similarly, the cost of hydraulic door closers has, in the past, beenrelativelyhigh, due in part to the extreme accuracy with which hydraulicby-pass and control ports must be located with respect to the internalbore of the hydraulic cylinder and to the difficulty of forming suchprecisely located ports internally of the said cylinder where accuratemachining, such as drilling, is obviously diicult.

An understanding of the general operation of door closer and dampenerdevices will readily illustrate the difficulty of internal drillingoperations so as to be able to use an extrusion, and the importance ofproviding such drilling with a degree of accuracy generally consistentwith economical production` The dampener assembly comprises generally abody portion having a cylindrical bore, an opening cut transversely ofsaid bore to support a pinion shaft and bearing therefor and a secondaryby-pass passage generally paralleling the cylindricalbore longitudinallydisplaced from and diametrically opposed to the pinion and bearingorifice. The diametric opposition of such passage to the orifice isdictated by the necessity for forming drill holes in the interior of thebore, joining the secondary passage by introducing drilling apparatusthrough the limited access provided by the orifice. It will be readilyunderstood, accordingly, that the use of linearly acting drilling meansthrough the oriiice to form the side passages between the bore and thesecondary passage will result in a restriction of the spacing of theorifices formed between the boring and the side passage by reason of thelimited access of space through the pinion orifice.

Such side passages and particularly the precise point of junction ofsuch side passages with the interior boring are critical factors indetermining the operation of the closer mechanism.

As more fully set forth hereinafter, the criticality of such locationsis engendered by the fact that the releasing speeds and linal latchingsurge of the closing door are desirably effected at certain given pointsin the closing cycle of the door, and, as will be readily understood,variation in placement of the discharge points of the side passages inthe magnitude of a sixteenth of an inch can result "in variation in therelease position of the door in the magnitude of several inches.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a door closerand dampener assembly whereby the by-pass Patented Get. 23, 1962discharge ports are located with great precision within the bore of theassembly.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dampener assembly asheretofore described which may be made of aluminum alloy, magnesiumalloy or like poor bearing but attractive appearing metals which may bemade of extruded stock and effect economies in machine operationswithout loss of eiiciency.

It is. a further object of this invention to provide a dampener assemblywherein the discharge ports within the bore may be located with greatprecision, without necessitating the use of expensive drilling jigs orthe like.

till a further object of this invention is to provide a dampenerassembly of the type described having internal discharge pointseffectively located at positions beyond those which may be reached bynormal drilling operations conducted through the pinion orifice.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a dampenerassembly in a door closer of the type described wherein the sidepassages joining the boring to the secondary or by-pass passage may beprovided with discharge ports which eXit into the internal boring atpoints heretofore considered to be inaccessible to normal drillingoperations.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein orbe hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURES l and 2 are diagrammatic plan views of the general assembly ofmy invention applied, respectively, to the left hand opening and righthand opening doors;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view taken in the direction of the arrows3 3 of FIGURE l, in magnified condition and with a sealing cap of thebody member omitted;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on the lines 4 4 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 5 is a magnified section taken on the lines 5 5 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken on the lines 6 6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken on the lines 7 7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a greatly magnified section taken on the lines 8 8 of FIGURE3.

Referring now to the drawings, in the diagrammatic FIGURES l and 2 thedevice is illustrated as applied to a door and door frame, the door,FIGURE l, being a left hand swinging door and that of FIGURE 2 a righthand swinging door. The device comprises a body member 10 which may, inaccordance with my invention, be made of aluminum or the like. The bodyis provided with longitudinally extending flanges 11 and 12, which areslidable within the bracket 13. The bracket is aihxed to the door memberD as by screws and is provided, in addition, with a pair of bolt members14, extending through the bracket 13 and tapped into the upper flange11, to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the body portion 10 andthe bracket 13.

Relative movement of the door to the door frame is imparted to the doorcloser mechanism by a linkage 15 which comprises a pair of link members16, 17, pivotally joined at one end by a trunnion piece 18 which passesthrough apertures 19 and 2.0 of the arms 17 and 16, respectively, and isretained thereon by a spring washer 21 which is engaged under the headedpart 22 of the trunnion piece 18. The end 23 of the link 17 is securedto the door jamb or frame 24 'by a bracket 25, screwed to the saidframe, which bracket in turn is provided with legs 26, 27, within whichthe link end 23 is positioned and held by trunnion pin 28, whichpivotally secures the link 17 between the legs 26, 27. I

The end 30 of the link 16 is provided with a gener-ally squared aperture31, which is positioned over the squared end 32 of trunnion or pinionshaft 33 and maintained in such seated relationship by the headed bolt34, which is threaded into the end of the pinion shaft 33.

The body 10, which may comprise a casting or a section of an extrusion,is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 4t). The ends 41, 42 ofthe body 1t! are formed with enlarged annular shoulder portions 43, 44,respectively, and threaded portions 45, 46 adjacent such annularshoulders.

As best seen in FIGURE 8, a secondary or lay-pass bore 50, generallyparallel to the longitudinal bore 4i), is formed in the end 41 of thebody 10. Such by-pass bore or passage 50 comprises borings of threegraduated diameters, to wit, narrow inner boring 51 separated from thewider'boring 52 by a shoulder 53 and end boring 54, internally threadedat 55 adjacent its outermost portion. A threaded plug 56 is engaged withthreads 55 of the boring 54 and is tightened within said threadedportion 55 to compress a gland packing 57 against shoulder part 58 whichdivides the boring 54- from the smaller diametered boring 52.

A threaded metering pin 60 is adjustably secured within the cap plug 56and is provided with an extended stern portion 61 which may be movedaxially of the boring 5t) by rotation of the said pin 60.

The by-pass passage 5t) is joined by a plurality of side passages 65,66, 67, for purposes which will appear hereinafter. The passages 65, 66are formed or drilled in the body 10 by means of a drill or like toolextended through the aperture 63, which aperture subsequently forms thebearing support for the pinion shaft 33. The side passage 67 issimilarly formed by drilling through the open end 41 of the bodyportion.

It will be readily recognized that the spacing of the ports 65, 66 aswell as the location along the boring of such ports is dictated ofnecessity by the size of the aperture 68, an understanding of thepositional limitations of such passages being necessary to a fullunderstanding of applicants contribution.

As best seen in FIGURE 8, the passage 65 joins the secondary or by-passpassage 50 at the narrowest boring part 51. The side passage 66 joinsthe wider boring part 52, preferably adjacent the annular shoulder part53.

A liner member 70, of steel or some other Wearl.

resistant metal or anti-frictional material, of tubular configuration,is snugly positioned within the boring 40, the outer diameter of theliner 76 being substantially identical to the dimensions of the boring,enabling the liner to be shrink-tit or otherwise positively frictionallysecured in predetermined position within the boring. The liner 7G isprovided with apertures 71, 72, 73, cut from the walls of the said linerand adapted in the tit position within the boring, to overlie theopenings onto said boring of the passages 65, 66, 67, respectively. Theopenings 71, 72, 73, are, as indicated, of a size in excess of the sizeof the port openings 65, 66, 67 and are precisely positioned withrespect to the liner 70 so that when the liner 70 is inserted into theboring in the desired position in said boring, the positions of theopenings 71, 72, 73 will have supplanted entrance of the passages 65,66,V 67 as the effective position of the ports in the interior boring ofthe closer.

A piston 75, having a head 76 slidable in intimate contact within theliner 70, is provided with side pieces 77, 78, having inwardly directedrack faces 79, S0, respectively. A rear saddle part 81 spans the sidepieces 77, 78 and is provided with a rearwardly extending boss 82 (seeFIGURE 4). The end 42 is provided with a capping member 83 which may bethreaded within the portion 46, sandwiching a gasket 84 against theshoulder 44 of the body 10, thus providing a sealing t at the end 42. Acoil spring 85 is biased between the end or saddle part 81, surroundingthe boss 82 and seated in the cap 83, thereby normally forcing thepiston 75 toward the right 4 handsend of the body portion as viewed inFIGURES 4 and Into the orice 68 there is threaded a packing gland S6carrying, in an annular recess 87, a packing ring 88. Pinion shaft 33 issupported in the gland S6, a bearing cup S9 being formed in the body 10diametrically opposed t0 the gland part 86, to form a lower support forthe pinion shaft 33. A truncated pinion gear is keyed to or integralwith the shaft 33 to engage one or the other of the rack faces 79, 80,depending upon the direction of rotation of the link 16, the initialtooth of the racks 79, 80 being beveled or cut away, as shown at 79a or80a, to permit such alternate rotation.

The end 41 of the body 1t) is similarly provided with a sealing cap 95,threaded to mate with the portion 45 and to force the gasket member 96against the shoulder 43 to provide a seal at the end 41.

Control of the closing speed of the door and a final latching impetus isprovided by adjustment of the stem 60. This stem, which may be adjustedforwardly or rearwardly within the by-pass passage 50, is provided atits forwardmost end 100 with a small, V-shaped cutout part 161, whichpart coacts with the annular shoulder 53 to limit ow through thenarrowest portion 51 of the by-pass passage 56, it being readilyunderstood that advancing the stern 66 into closer proximity with theshoulder 53 will tend to limit the ilow, and retracting the part 166away from the shoulder 53 will augment the ow through the passage.

The stem member 6? is provided, in addition, with an opposed pair oflinearly extending grooves 102, 103. When the stem 6i) is turned so thatthe groove 102 or 163 is aligned with the passage 67, maximum iiowthrough the bore part 52 is permitted, it being understood that when thepart 60 is rotated so that the groove 162 or 163 is only partially inregistry, flow is decreased through the said bore part.

The bore portion, prior to operation, is lled with oil or like hydraulicuid through a plug member threaded into the body portion 1@ and aperture106 formed in the liner 76 to lie in registry with the said plug.

With the assembly mounted on a door, as shown in FIGURES l and 2,opening of the door will cause the piston member 75 to be movedrearwardly or to the left, as seen in FIGURES 5 and 8, such movement ofthe piston being effected irrespective of the direction of rotation ofthe pinion shaft 33 by reason of the truncated gear and beveled toothedrack mechanism previously described. A ball check valve 107 formed inthe piston head 76 permits withdrawal of the piston 75 and biasing ofthe spring 85 without appreciable resistance from the ow of hydraulicuid through the piston head. The rearward and forward portions 168, 109,respectively, of the piston head 76 are beveled or chamfered, as seen inFIGURE 5, so that blockage of the passage 65 in the rearward positionand of the passage 67 in the forward position of the piston will notoccur.

The rearmost position of the piston head 75 in the bore is shown in dotand dash lines, FIGURE 8, it being apparent from inspection of such gurethat a smooth, free ow clearance between the bevel 108 and the passage65 through the aperture 71 is provided so that there will be no tendencyof the piston member 75 to stick or remain in such rearward position, aswould be the case if the passage 65 were blocked by the piston head atsuch position.

When the door is released, the spring 85 urges the rearwardly positionedpiston 75 toward the closed or right hand position in the bore 4t). Theinitial forward move- Vment of the piston 75 causes the ball check valve107' to close, effectively dividing the bore into two chambers, one toeach side of the piston head 76. Further movement of the head 76 towardthe end 41 may be accomplished only by forcing uid trapped between thehead and such end through the restricted passages 66, l67 and past thelimiting flow point defined by the shoulder 53` and the groove 101 inthe end 100 of the stem 60. Such forward movement is normally quite slowand prevents sudden slamming or return of the door under the influenceof the spring 85, the speed of closing being controlled, as previouslyindicated, by rotation of the stem 60.

AS it is desirable to increase the Speed of door closing as the doorcomes close to latched position, the passage 66 is provided. When thecutout or bevel 108 is in registry with, or forward of, the aperture 72in the liner, fluid trapped between the piston head 76 and the end 41 ispermitted, in addition to the prior mentioned route, to pass through thepassage 67, through the limiting grooves 102 or 103, and rearwardly tothe chamber behind the piston 76, through the passage =66. As the accessprovided by groove 102 or 103 is considerably greater than the accessprovided to the passage port 5-1 between the shoulder 53 and the bevel101, considerable acceleration of the door is encountered at such point.It will be readily recognized that the point during the closing cycle ofthe door at which latching acceleration is permitted is extremelycritica'l since early release would result in premature and dangerousslamming of the door and release too late during the closing cycle wouldnot permit sulficient speed for latching.

Due to the criticality in positioning of the effective point ofdischarge 0f the passage 66 to the interior of the liner 70 and to thediiculty of forming the passage 66 with the requisite accuracy by reasonof the limiting access provided through the aperture 68, the applicanthas discovered the desirability of forming such passage 66 roughlypositioned in the body and accurately locating the effective port orpoint of discharge of such passage by means of sleeving the liner 70into the interior of the bore. Since the aperture 72 in the liner 70 isformed prior to insertion of such liner in the bore and since accuratealignment of the liner 70 with respect to the bore is relatively easilyaccomplished, the necessity for accurate drilling of passage 66 isobviated, without compromising the quality of the door closer assembly.

While the instant application has illustrated the novel port extendingand locating effect of providing a liner having a substantial thickness,with an extended aperture adapted to register with an end thrust orlatching side passage in a door closer, it should be understood that thespirit of my invention encompasses the use of such duct extendingaperture in connection with other discharge ports in door closers,regardless of the function of such discharge ports.

It will be readily recognized from the foregoing description that greateconomies in manufacture -may be effected by dispensing with precisionmachining and drilling where such drilling is difficult to effect, andsub- Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what Iclaim as new yand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A dampener assembly comprising a body portion adapted to be mountedto a door and having a longitudinal boring, a by-pass, secondary passageof restricted diameter paralleling said boring and a plurality of sidepassages communicating with said secondary passage and opening at spacedpoints into said boring, a tubular liner member slidable endwise intointimately fitted position within said boring having walls defining aplurality of apertures, each adapted to register with one of said spacedpoints and to extend longitudinally beyond said points a predetermineddistance from the end of said body portion, a spring biased pistonmember reciprocable in and intimately engaging the inner periphery ofsaid. liner, and connector means linking said piston to the frame ofsaid door for relatively moving said piston and body portion inaccordance with the relative m-ovement of said door and said frame.

Z. A door closer device comprising a casing member adapted to be securedto a door, said casing member including walls defining a cylindricalbore, a secondary passage by-passing portions of said bore and aplurality of side passages communicating said secondary passage withsaid bore and opening into said bore at discharge points longitudinallyspaced along said bore, a tubular liner member adapted to be intimatelyreceived in said bore, said liner member including spaced cutoutportions, each adapted to register with one of said discharge points andto extend Ifor an area around said points effectively to communicatesaid points with said bore, a piston member having a head portionintimately fitting and slidable within said liner member to divide thelatter into forward and rearward chambers and having rear and forwardcutoff bevel means, connector means for moving said piston head toforward and rearward limiting positions of the stroke 'of the pistonhead in said liner in accordance with the relative movement of a doorand door frame, one of said cutout portions being positioned in theliner to communicate with and extend rearwardly of said rear cutoffbevel means at the forward and rearward limiting positions of saidpiston head and another of said cutout portions being positioned in theliner to communicate with and extend forwardly of said forward cutoffbevel means at the forward and rearward limiting positions of saidpiston head whereby a side passage is communicated with said bore, bothforwardly and rearwardly of said piston head at all positions of thepiston, adjustabfle ilow Ilimit means interposed in said secondarypassage, and spring means interposed between said piston and said casingadapted to bias said piston toward said forward limiting position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS810,411 Henry I an. 23, 1906 1,152,339 Norton Aug. 31, 1915 2,291,436Anderson July 28, 1942 2,779,094 Christoffel Jan. 29, 1957 2,790,991Schlage May 7, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 826,849 Germany Ian. 7, 1952

